The Appeal: A Novel

Collection

Description

John Grisham's first legal thriller since The broker. In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town's water supply, causing the worst 'cancer cluster' in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it. Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided? The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice.… (more)

Awards

User reviews

LibraryThing member KevinJoseph

As an in-house counsel in a large corporation, I (perhaps surprisingly) enjoyed The Appeal, both as a thriller and as a stimulating piece of political commentary. For those familiar with Grisham's body of work, The Appeal stands as a bookend to The King of Torts. That Grisham is able to catigate mass tort lawyers in one thriller, and then turn around and denounce big business in another novel, is a testament to his ability to argue both sides of a case.

Some reviewers have critiqued this novel for being too plot driven and for being populated by cardboard characters. I disagree. This is a thriller, folks, not a literary character study. And while many characters are recognizable as white hats or black hats, they are sketched with more depth than the denizens of most thrillers, and their actions are (generally) believable. Carl Trudeau, while over-the-top for sure, is a wickedly entertaining villian. Ron Fisk also stands out as a character who wears a nuanced shade of gray, being a generally likeable guy who gets caught up in circumstances beyond his control.

This novel grabbed me right away and kept me on board with a good blend of pacing, legal intrigue and real-world political commentary. (You need only follow the daily absurdities in our presidential election process to see what lengths campaigns will go to buy votes.) I also loved what Grisham did with the ending, throwing a curve ball that will make many Grisham devotees swing and miss.

All in all, this may be Grisham's best-written, most realistic and politically-astute legal thriller.… (more)

While reading this book, I couldn't help but get the feeling that I'd read it before. Let's see; an idealistic, giving, pure and selfless plaintiff's attorney sacrifices everything on behalf of a downtrodden, mistreated, abused and helpless working class plaintiff who is being railroaded by an evil corporate attorney working on behalf of a money grubbing, despicable Wall Street financier aided by a corrupt judicial system slanted in favor of money and power. Where have I seen this plot before? Oh yeah, it's the same as 13 of the 16 Grisham books that I have on the shelf in my library.

While this is the typical cookie cutter Grisham legal thriller, it must be said that this novel is so over the top in its portrayal of conservatives and business that it is borderline dangerous. The strereotypes are offensive. In Grisham's world, there is only snow white, blinding in its purity, or coal black, stunning in its evil. There are no shades of gray, because how entertaining would that be?

Now, as Grisham points out and as many will echo, this is simply a novel consisting of fictitious characters. As such, it is even somewhat entertaining for the five hours it takes to read it. However, when Grisham makes the absurd statement that it is actually believable and based loosely on fact, he reveals his true motivation, an appeal for out and out class warfare.

Only in Grisham's world can business be pilloried for financial support of conservative candidates, while trial lawyers are held up as paragons of virtue for their attempt to buy the same seat on the court. Why? Because the trial lawyers are for the "little people". They don't care about money. In fact, they're willing to go bankrupt in their never ending search for truth, justice and the American way. Please.

In this book, every case before the court is so extreme in their facts, that no reasonable person could fail to feel outrage, so much the better when Grisham's troglodyte conservatives consistently rule in favor of negligent nursing homes, toxic dumpers, child killers and incompetent physicians. All to the benefit of scum in the board rooms and on Wall Street.

In Wisconsin, last year we went through an election for a state supreme court justice. The similarities between that election and what occured in John Grisham's latest book were frightening. Everyone should read this book so that fewer of us will be manipulated by nefarious forces.

LibraryThing member bigorangemichael

John Grisham's first legal thriller in several years isn't your typical John Grisham legal thriller. Instead of featuring a plucky young lawyer taking on the system in the courtroom, "The Appeal" starts with the end of the trial and examines what happens from there.

For years, Krane Chemicals polluted the water of a small town in Mississippi with illegal chemical dumping. Now they've been taken to trial in the first of what could be many lawsuits by one of the families in the case and lost--to the tune of $41 million in all. The case is set for appeal and the head of Krane Chemicals decides he wants to stack the deck. He embarks on a campaign to buy a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court and pad his own net worth.

And that's just the first chapter.

"The Appeal" is a stark warning on the dangers of selecting justices for courts from a system that allows campaign contributions. It warns us about justices out to make laws instead of interpret them, of campaigns run on style over substance and where image is everything. It's a stark, harrowing warning by the current king of the legal thriller and a sobering thought in this election year. Grisham populates his book with a large cast of characters, but it never becomes confusing or unwieldy. The story is compelling, the dilemma fascinating and the warning very real. Grisham entertains and warns without preaching.… (more)

LibraryThing member gophergolfer

Not a mystery. A tale of skulduggery in the election of state supreme court justices. It is all fictional, and represents John Grisham's take on politics in the judiciary of a state. Not really very good writing. Not much to take from this and several times along the way I wondered why I was reading it with so much good literature available.… (more)

LibraryThing member nglofile_reads_2008

So-so. Interesting indictments of voter manipulation, but no character to truly champion. Story drags in several places, especially in central acts. Overall, unsatisfying.

P.S. This isn't the first time I've been distracted by the Xanadu actor being the voice of Grisham. It just jumps me out of the action at the strangest times.… (more)

LibraryThing member Tony12154

Another great work by Grisham that speculates about what the rich and privileged can do in this world. Not the ending you may anticipate....

LibraryThing member milibrarian

Grisham is back with another legal thriller, but it isn't quite as good as some of his older books. This time a small town lawyer has sued a large company over their toxic waste and its devastating effects on his client and the entire town; their win of a $41 million settlement is appealed. But with money to spare, Krane Chemicals attempts to buy their choice for an appellate judge by financing his campaign in return for decisions limiting liability. There are a lot of characters and it can be difficult at times to keep everyone straight, but this is also an interesting look at the dangers of "buying" and "selling" justice.… (more)

LibraryThing member Jeffrey414

A frightening "novel" of politics and the impact on the American legal system and how it is manipulated by big business and takes advantage of wronged people who cannot defend themselves. Grisaham back to his legal roots. I have no doubt that courts are manipulated constantly by big business with millions of dollars at their disposal to overturn verdicts granted to damaged families, individuals, and innocent children. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the legal system and liked early Grisham works.… (more)

LibraryThing member mrfitz123

Well written but paints all fundamentalists and conservatives in the same light. Basically was disappointed. Lacks in the drama of his earlier works.

LibraryThing member MargaretdeBuhr

Like the concept of the story - how Supreme Court judges are bought by big business. A very relevant issue today. Characters were well developed and the story seemed to lag at some points.

LibraryThing member joecflee

John Grisham delivers a novel that is less than filling. The premise and the issues are contemporary and quite attention grabbing, but he fails to deliver the goods in the end.

It sounds like a fairly routine description of how political machines run elections, and the setting that this is a judicial election doesn't add too much. The twists toward the end was predictable, but not satisfying.

Even though it left me with an even emptier feeling at the end, I loved the Partner much more than this.… (more)

LibraryThing member lmcguire

not really enough character development, more "legalese" than I wanted. I enjoy more character, plot, action. Didn't like the ending but was a realistic ending. Wouldn't want to see the movie, should there be one.

LibraryThing member mzonderm

This is a book with an agenda, one Grisham doesn't try to hide, to his credit. In his afterword, while assuring us that all the people are completely made up, Grisham also assures us that the problem he depicts is all too real. The issue is an elected judiciary and the effect that special interests can have on a judicial election.

Grisham seems to have recovered his ability to write with this book, and although none of the character are particularly well fleshed-out, this is a plot-driven book, and the plot moves along nicely.

I have to say that I wasn't altogether enamored with the ending. As things look worse and worse for the good guys, the plot takes a sharp turn, but not necessarily for the better. The turn itself is unpredictable, and makes the ending even more unpredictable, but I felt that the turn itself came from so far out in left field that it took away from the plot, which, until that point, had been running very smoothly, if somewhat depressingly.

Despite that, this is a good effort by Grisham, and one worth reading if for no other reason that than to read about a fictional, but all too possible and pernicious threat to justice and democracy that is seldom discussed.… (more)

LibraryThing member lrobe190

When a local jury awards a huge settlement against Krane Chemical Co. for polluting the water supply in a small Mississippi town, Krane appeals to the state Supreme Court. There is one position on the court which is up for election and the CEO of Krane arranges to "hire" a new justice that will rule favorably on their appeal. Grisham shares his prodigious knowledge of the legal and justice system and most of the narrative has to do with all of the political manueverings that go on when big corporations are sued for malpractice. Grisham's issue in this novel revolves around election reform. This novel is a quick read, but the subject matter made me so angry that I had a hard time finishing the book. No happy endings here for anyone!!… (more)

LibraryThing member Pam1960ca

I enjoyed this latest novel by John Grisham so much. I was really disappointed in 'Playing for Pizza'. That's not one I would recommend. But 'The Appeal' is definitely worth a read.

LibraryThing member eembooks

This Grisham is mostly unappealing I was hoping for at least a dramatic ending. New characters in every chapter made for a cluttered landscape. Big business, bad chemical company and dirty politics (buying a state supreme justice) were the winners in this his latest novel. I think there are 3 of his books I have not read but will need a rest.… (more)

LibraryThing member LivelyLady

Grisham's best, in my opinion! Anticipating an appeal to reverse a large monetary judgment against a chemical company, "big business" backs the election of a new supreme court judge on the Mississippi Supreme Court. This may have been of more interest to me at this time as the "marketing" of the presidential candidates is taking place.… (more)

LibraryThing member MrsHillReads

What a scary book...I'm afraid it is all too possible that something like this can (and probably has) happen. I SO wanted it to have a different ending.

LibraryThing member Clara53

With every new legal thriller Grisham's disgust with American legal system is becoming more and more pronounced, his skeptical attitude more visible, his cynical opinion is more expressed. Each one of them is still a page-turner, unlike a few books that he tried to write in another genre inbetween - in my view, they were not a success... He would have been one of my favorite authors but for this streak of derision in his legal thrillers.… (more)

LibraryThing member mojomomma

Grisham has another legal page-turner about the corruption present in the legal system today. Concerned about liability? Just buy yourself a Supreme Court judge in some key states who will limit punitive damages awarded by juries and your troubles will be over! This story has an interesting twist, though, when the Supreme Court judge's son is seriously injured in a Little League game with an illegal bat. ”… (more)

LibraryThing member poolays

I really enjoyed this book. I guess I am a little naive about the political process, but I was surprised at the extent of manipulation in an election. And it was entirely believable. It makes me look at the current Presidential election with a more jaded eye. What's really going on? hmmm...

LibraryThing member Bumpersmom

Reading for me is fun, unfortunately for some reason, this book made if more like a chore. It took me 12 days for what I would normally do in 2 or 3 at best. I had to force myself to pick it up and continue. This is not like the John Grisham books of the past, it drags its feet, and becomes tedious in the details, many of which are not really necessary to the story itself. The characters are superficial, Mr. Grisham doesn't give them enough depth to like or dislike them, just inserts them into the story when he needs someone to fill in or keep the flow moving. I was disappointed, and bored. Certainly not what I have come to expect from a Grisham book.… (more)

LibraryThing member eesti23

The Appeal, John Grisham’s twentieth novel, was according to its description “...a shocking story of political and legal intrigue...” However, its focus on a court case that is so similar to the one seen in Erin Brockovich, almost takes away from the important focus of the novel and instead has you thinking of Julia Roberts, dead frogs and box office figures.

The Appeal is set in Mississippi following a large verdict against a major chemical company that has been accused of dumping toxic waste. The toxic waste has affected the local water supply causing Bowmore, Mississippi to be cruelly referred to as Cancer County due to the unusual high number of cancer cases in the region. The appeal, which then follows, sets into motion a trail of propaganda, underhand campaigns and dirty tricks that puts the verdict in jeopardy.

With his novel, Grisham, has obviously set out to highlight the role of politics and big company money that plagues parts of the judicial system and this he has done well. He is also careful to point out at the end of the novel that The Appeal is just that – a work of fiction - but one that reflects current practice and tactics in many locations throughout the world.

The detail outlined on the governmental campaign, one of the main focuses of the novel, encourages readers to re-examine the electoral processes happening around them. In addition, the wide range of tactics used by the big money companies to save stock prices and limit the amount of damages paid in cases where they have been found liable is at the very least surprising and in many instances shocking. Overall I was left waiting for the true shock and excitement to get started, which just never seemed to arrive.… (more)

LibraryThing member ZachMontana

Enjoyable book on tape of a chemical company dumping toxic waste in a town where the water supply becomes polluted causing cancer in a large part of the population. Tells how small town lawyers try to battle against the resources of the rich owner, who uses his wealth to try and buy a Mississippi Supreme Court Justice to sway the verdict of the case. Believable plot and good human stories help make it a relevant book for our times.… (more)